News

MURIC alleges religious bias in airport chapel project, relief distribution

Published

2 months ago

May 2, 2026

Preport

MURICs Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola.jpeg

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Federal Government of favouritism over the planned construction of a N25 billion ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

In a statement issued on Friday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, said the project reportedly being undertaken alongside the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,raises concerns about equitable treatment of religious groups in the country.

The group also criticised what it described as uneven distribution of relief funds, citing the reported allocation of N2 billion to victims of violence in Plateau State without similar interventions in other affected states, including Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Kwara.

MURIC further questioned reports that N1.2 billion was shared among the 19 northern states ahead of the Eid al-Kabir celebration, describing the figure as disproportionate when compared to the Plateau intervention.

“How can only one state be given N2 billion while all the 19 states in the North are asked to share N1.2 billion? But is it right to treat Muslims like second class citizens, animal farm?” the statement read.

The organisation also called on the federal government to provide clarity on plans for Muslim religious infrastructure, urging authorities to ensure parity.

“So we must ask federal government to tell Nigerians when land of equal size will be given to the Muslims to build their grand national mosque. Of course federal government must not forget the N25 billion cooling off somewhere in the Central Bank which will accompany the land allocation for Muslims,” the group added.

MURIC urged the government to uphold fairness and inclusivity in its policies, warning that perceived imbalance could heighten religious sensitivities.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the federal government or CAN regarding the allegations.

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Weightlifting Federation’s Technical Director Sefiya Onubaye Reveals Advantages Of Team Nigeria’s ‘Final Camping’ In Aberdeen

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2026

Preport

The technical director of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Sefiya Onubaye has reeled out many advantages of what he described as a very good step by the country in arranging a ‘final training camp’ ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sports247 reports that Onubaye was full of excitement and awe when he touched down with the first batch of Nigeria’s weightlifters for this year’s Games and disclosed that they would immediately commence training in Aberdeen.

Onubaye added that facilities seen at the country’s final training base in Aberdeen were top-notch, which he believes will enhance the lifters’ abilities, as they intensify preparations for the Games in Glasgow, which are scheduled to hold from July 23rd to August 2nd.

The first batch of weightlifters who arrived along with Onubaye in Aberdeen on Saturday morning comprised Didih Onome (women’s 53kg), Rafiat Lawal (women’s 58kg), Osijo Taiwo (women’s 86kg), Favour Agboro (men’s 65kg) and Edidiong Umoafia Joseph (men’s 71kg).

They will be joined early this week by Ruth Nyong Asuquo (women’s 48kg), Ruth Ayodele (women’s 63kg), Islamiyat Yusuf (women’s 69kg), Opadeji Adedapo (men’s 79kg) and NWF’s head coach Luke Ibe, to complete the contingent of nine lifters and two tacticians.

Onubaye disclosed further that the weightlifters had all concluded the first phase of their preparations on July 1st, and they are now determined to fine-tune their build-up in Aberdeen, where he promised they will not waste any time in adapting to the new environment and equipment.

The technical buff added in an interview with NWF Media, “We thank God for bringing us safely to Aberdeen. The athletes are in good spirits and we will begin training almost immediately. This final camping phase is very important.

“It gives our lifters the opportunity to get used to the equipment and training conditions they will compete with at the Commonwealth Games. Our focus is to ensure that every athlete is fully prepared and ready to perform at their best.”

Business

Nigerian-British grandma Arrested with 13kg Cocaine Concealed in Plantain Peels

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2026

Preport

BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—At 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Yetunde Barek, has been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), after officers allegedly discovered 13kg of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels hidden among food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspect who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom was arrested at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic airline flight to London on Sunday 28th June 2026. A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.

Meanwhile, a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday 29th June 2026 has resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka over the seizure of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters, a consignment that was part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra state followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons. Four suspects initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations include: the cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi Henry. The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra state as the leader of the syndicate.
In Taraba, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday 4th July arrested a suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-biam road Wukari Local Government Area of the state, while coming from Onitsha, Anambra state.
Two suspects: Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday 2nd July during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna state, while a 65-year-old suspect Francis Ifara Eja was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi state on Saturday 4th July. Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa Alhaji Babani was arrested in possession of 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau state on Friday 3rd July.
In Gombe, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday 1st July arrested the duo of Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village, Yamaltu- Deba LGA, where they were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 556 kilograms.
With the same level of dedication, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun state; and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to raise the operational bar.

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